Fingerprinting Today!!

God is great....all the time!

Thanks to the Good Lord's grace, we were fingerprinted TODAY!!!  This is ahead of our scheduled appointment!!  We were told that Houston is the one city in particular known to deny families for early fingerprinting.  Fortunately, thanks to God's grace, we got through with no questions or problems!  We had Earl's itinerary in hand, showing he would be traveling out of the country on business and proof of our beautiful daughter's birthday, showing she will age-out in 11 months.  (Aging-out means she will no longer be available for adoption) BUT, we didn't need either of these!!!  The 4 USCIS representatives we spoke with didn't ask questions or hesitate to allow us to be fingerprinted!!

Also incredible is the fact, it only took us 15 minutes, from start to finish!!!  Yes, only 15 minutes at a government office.  Is that incredible or what?!?!

I phoned the USCIS office and spoke with our caseworker when returning home.  She kindly pulled up our record and said we are approved and once the fingerprints were loaded in the system, she will mail the I797 Approval form!!!!!  Prints will be loaded either this afternoon or on Tuesday!

Earl and I were so excited and gave all praises to God on the drive home.  This adoption continues to show us the capacity of  God's love, God's work and that HE is always in control....amazing how much of God's grace we've seen between the two adoptions.  We almost timed-out and lost the opportunity to adopt our beautiful daughter BUT when God is involved...he can move mountains and find a way..even when it involves government rules and regulations!!  God is great....all the time!!

What next?
1.  Receive the I797 (USCIS Approval to adopt & bring our girl home!)
2.  Send the I797 Approval form to Madison Adoption Associates
3.  Madison Adoption Associates will authenticate & certify the I797 Approval Form
4.  DTC-DOSSIER TO CHINA! Our mounds of paperwork is sent to China
5.  LID:  LOG-IN DATE:our paperwork is logged into China's system (approx. 2 weeks after DTC)
6.  LOA: Letter of Approval from China
7.  Article 5**
8.  TA: Travel Approval
9.  Schedule CA (consulate appointment)
10.  Schedule travel

**The Article 5 has several steps involved

We hope to be traveling by end of year but will know a better estimate, once we receive the LOA.

Thanks to God's grace, we were sucessful at walking in to be fingerprinted, ahead of our scheduled appointment!!!  It was totally God's grace at work.  We had been told that Houston was the one city that is known for turning away those who request early fingerprinting.  We went prepared, Earl's China business trip itinerary in hand along with proof of our daughter's birthday and the fact, she will be aging out (ie: unadoptable) in 11 short months.  If we don't make it to China by June, we lose the beautiful opportunity to adopt her.  Fortunately, we didn't need any of this information!!  The USCIS office didn't question us one time and we went through 3 people before the fingerprinting.  What a blessing!!!!